HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS: This Clairol kit (shown here in Light Blonde) comes with a bottle of tint, a plastic pump bottle of developer, two packets of conditioning gloss, gloves, and easy-to-follow instructions. Due to the light, foamy consistency of the dye, the fragrance seems gentler than other at-home color; the conditioning gloss has a beachy fragrance.

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the at-home color kit for newbies. The foam dye minimizes mess and is much easier to manage than traditional creams or liquid formulas and delivers natural-looking results. The plastic bottles are clearly marked with directions, and the fold-out instructional pamphlet has illustrations.